Troubleshooting Sway On a 27 Foot Adriondack Trailer Pulled by a 2010 F-150 SuperCab  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Something must have changed in your towing setup to cause the trailer to sway with the new truck. I would start by measuring the ball height and the trailer coupler height. Park the truck and trailer on level ground and measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening on the truck and from the ground to the bottom of the coupler on the trailer. If the hitch height is greater than the coupler height, the difference is the drop that is required. If the coupler height is greater, the difference is the rise that is required. You would then need to adjust the weight distribution head on your shank to match the height of the coupler. If the ball is up to 2 inches higher than the trailer coupler that should be alright but you do not want the ball to be lower than the coupler height or higher than 2 inches.

Next, I would measure the vehicle wheel wells, without the trailer attached. Then, hook up the trailer and attach the weight distribution system and measure the wheel wells again making sure that the vehicle stays level and within a range of 1/2 to 1 inch of where the vehicle was without the trailer attached. If not adjust the spring bars and weight distribution head angle until things come out level.

You should also check the trailers tongue weight. You tongue weight should be between 10 and 15 percent of the total trailer weight. Proper tongue weight and trailer loading is the best prevention for trailer sway. If you have changed something on the trailer, like adding a generator at the rear of the trailer, then this could be your cause and you will need to offset the weight added by adding weight in the front of the trailer.

If these remedies do not work, you may need to make sure that there is not a problem with the brakes or axles on the trailer which is causing the problem. If a brake is dragging or a wheel bearing is going out this can cause problems also. Friction type sway controls only work to stop friction once it has started and do not help to keep it from starting. The only system that will help keep sway from beginning is the Strait-Line Weight Distribution Hitch System with dual cam sway control. If you would like to let me know the gross trailer weight of your rig when loaded and ready to travel and the tongue weight, I will be glad to make a recommendation for a Strait-Line system for you.

expert reply by: Robert G

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